Though Ms Jacob had cited personal reasons in her letter submitted to Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan, the circumstances were too obvious to be ignored. Only the second woman to adorn the Kerala Chief Secretary’s post, Ms Jacob’s name got sullied in connection with construction of a helipad at Ponmudi where the ISRO was planning to set up the Indian Institute of Space Research & Technology (IIST).

 She had come in for alround criticism by the LDF Cabinet recently for keeping the government in the dark over the construction which was at a site whose status and ownership was under a cloud.

The UDF and LDF were already trading charges over the sale of forest land “illegally owned’’ by Merchiston Estate  to ISRO. Mr Achuthanandan had publicly stated that Ms Jacob had erred in her action. The helipad, it was later revealed, was being constructed in connection with the Prime Minister’s ‘impending’ visit to launch the IIST.

 Ms Jacob had allotted Rs one crore Central funds for the helipad on the advice of the ISRO which had informed her of the Prime Minister’s visit in connection with the launch of IIST. However, the Prime Minister’s Office clarified that Dr Singh had no plans to visit Kerala. Very little is also known about the role of ISRO officials in the ongoing controversy which had led to the exit of Ms Jacob.

 Ms Jacob who was to retire in February next year would perhaps be Kerala’s first chief secretary to voluntarily retire from service.

Her husband Babu Jacob had retired as chief secretary during the UDF rule. It may be noted that several senior IAS officials had opted for central deputation soon after the elections. A couple of officials like Mr E K Bharat Bhushan were forced  to seek central deputation following strained relations with certain ministers.

 Reacting to the development, Opposition leader Oommen Chandy alleged that Mr Achuthanandan was making officials scapegoats to hide the government’s lapses.

He pointed out that Finance Minister Thomas Isaac had himself admitted that the construction of the helipad had his department’s concurrence.